Introduction
Sex health is helpful to children as it assists them to learn and appreciate their bodies. Younger children are more curious in pregnancy and babies than in technicalities of sex. As a parent, discussing sex with a child initiates an open communication which is important as the child approaches adolescent. When there is increased parent-child communication, the kid is likely to communicate with parents on challenges of adolescent. These trials include depression, relationships, drug abuse and sex issues. The best strategy in sex health education is beginning it early in life. as the child grows, the conversation should be continued depending on the level of child’s understanding. this will enable the parents avoid giving an uncomfortable talk when a child reaches adolescence. Sex education to children protects them from risky behaviors as they mature up. It is offered at different stages in life of a child.
From infancy to two years, toddlers are enlightened on different parts of the body including genitals. At this stage, most of them are able to differentiate between a male and female. At the age of five, children are educated on the basics of reproduction: a baby grows in the womb of a woman. Children should also understand their own bodies and be taught on the privacy related to body issues. They should also learn that people can touch them in certain ways but not others. Between the age of five and eight years, the children are taught on different types of sex; heterosexual, homosexual e.tc. They are guided on the role of sexuality in a relationship. Other basics of social convention such as nudity, privacy and respect are introduced at this age. The concept of puberty is also taught at this stage because some children will start experiencing pubertal development at the age of 10 or below. The function of sexual intercourse is also taught. At teen years, that is, nine to twelve years, children are taught about safe sex and contraceptives. They learn what entails a successful relationship and factors facilitating to failure of a relationship. They learn to judge various depictions from the media concerning sexuality. They are able to know whether these depictions are realistic or false. At the age of 13 to 18 years, teenagers are more private. Nevertheless, if parents were open to them at an early age, it becomes easy for children to approach them when difficult situations arise.
Conclusion
The responsibility of sex health to children should not be left to the school system only. Much more is required to compliment it. Due to increased technology and internet accessibility, children are more prone to sex depictions from the media. In most cases, this information is biased and the expression of sex is distorted. When not well guided, children will have a negative understanding of sex. This might ruin their life in the long run. Having an open communication about sex will save children from media biasness. It will prevent them from engaging in risky sexual behaviors at latter years of their lives
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